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Revealed: First look at Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker

Film fans have been given their first peek at Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker.

The US actor, 43, is playing the Batman villain in a new reincarnation in the much-loved movie franchise.

Director Todd Phillips teased a short clip of the actor in make-up on Instagram on Friday evening.

Expectations are high for the fifth joker, especially after the late Heath Ledger's much-lauded gritty version in The Dark Knight which was released in 2008.

Phillips' teaser clip started with a board saying "wardrobe test" and "character: Arthur".

It then showed a long-haired Phoenix looking sternly at the camera as faded images of his made-up face flashed over his face as he gradually began to grin.

Then the camera panned in to his face fully made-up as the Joker, with painted white skin with a wide red mouth, nose and eyebrows and blue triangles around his eyes.

He is also wearing a blue shirt and red jacket.

The song, appropriately called "Laughing" by Canadian rock band The Guess Who, played in the background of the clip.

Last Sunday Phillips posted a picture of the Walk the Line actor with long hair staring into the camera.

The caption simply read: "Arthur."

The film will look at the Joker's origins, with his name being Arthur Fleck.

Previous reports suggested he will be a stand-up comic who turns to crime after his career fails to take off.

The film called Joker, which will also star Robert De Niro, is due to be released in 2019.

Ledger died aged 28 in 2008 after an accidental overdose of prescription medications including painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills.